Florissant Police Chief William Karabas said eight boys, ages nine through 11, along with two men, reported the incident. Karabas said witnesses reported seeing Rzadca inappropriately touching himself in the James J. Eagan Center locker room Jan. 13. The man did not say anything, witnesses said.

They boys had just returned to the locker room from swimming, Karabas said.

Florissant police later caught Rzadca a few blocks away.

"He did make some tacit admissions," Karabas said.

Karabas said he is unfamiliar with Rzadca's criminal history, but he did confirm the suspect is a registered sex offender.

Police call the incident isolated. But even Florissant's mayor wants to do more to protect children and adults who use the facility.

"We have to use the presumption of not being found guilty," Mayor Robert Lowery said. "But nevertheless I have eight children that said he did this."

Later this month, Florissant city council will take up a measure proposed by the mayor to tighten security at the facility.